Montana Attorney General Tim Fox is urging congressional leaders to pass legislation supporting victims of child pornography. He is encouraging the House of Representatives to support and vote for the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act.

“This is a very important piece of legislation,” said Fox. “As you know, child pornography is unfortunately very prevalent in our society and when a child is victimized, that harm goes on in perpetuity. Images of that harm are spread all over, typically through the internet.”

Fox says in order to receive restitution, a victim is required to pursue every case in which a defendant was found to possess images of the victim. The passing of this bill would make that process much easier.

“If there is one person who obtains those images and looks at them and we catch them, they alone would be liable for the damages to the individual that was the victim of the crime,” Fox said. “Of course if we caught more, they would all be liable in part.”

According to Fox, all state attorneys general signed the letter asking the House of Representatives to support this piece of legislation. The senate has already passed the bill.